Abta is calling on agents to lobby their local MPs about the “extreme challenges” they face and the “urgent need” for tailored financial support.
The association has drawn up a template letter that calls on MPs to ask the transport secretary Grant Shapps and chancellor Rishi Sunak for tailored support for travel, ahead of the Budget on March 3.
Abta’s call follows a letter from the association to prime minister Boris Johnson on Monday (January 25), ahead of further discussions about possible travel restrictions.
More: Ministers ‘wrong’ to insist ‘now not the time’ to book summer travel
The letter reiterated calls for financial help and a recovery roadmap for the whole sector, in partnership with industry experts and public health authorities.
Last week the Save Future Travel Coalition wrote to transport secretary Grant Shapps, outlining considerations for reopening travel.
The new template letter asks MPs to lobby Shapps and Sunak to:
• expand existing grants schemes, in recognition of the unique regulatory restrictions placed on the travel sector.
• extend other financial support mechanisms, such as furlough, VAT deferrals, business rates relief, loan re-payments, to avoid the impending financial cliff-edge facing many companies that have little or no revenue for approaching a year.
• enable travel businesses to trade their way out of the crisis, by setting out a plan to build consumer confidence while putting in place mitigation measures to ensure travel can operate in a risk-controlled manner.
Luke Petherbridge (pictured), Abta’s director of public affairs, said: “This week it is one year since the start of travel restrictions, which started with restrictions on Wuhan (China), but then spread quickly to cover all destinations by March.
“Travel was the first industry in the UK to be affected by this pandemic, and ONS data shows travel agents and tour operators are the hardest hit businesses.
“However, unlike other sectors such as hospitality, there hasn’t been any tailored financial support for the sector.
“While the vaccine rollout is positive, the industry cannot wait for the whole UK adult population to be vaccinated before travel restarts – and businesses cannot afford to lose another summer.
“We also know that many people have a desire to get back to experiences that they value highly and have missed dearly, including travel to visit family and friends abroad.
“Abta will continue to press government for roadmap out of the crisis and I urge members to do the same by getting in touch with their local MP.”
The templates are available to download from abta.com/savefuturetravel for use by Abta members and wider industry.
More: Ministers ‘wrong’ to insist ‘now not the time’ to book summer travel